Lout who urinated on Burnley war memorial faces jail (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Lout who urinated on Burnley war memorial faces jail

2:54pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News

A DRUNKEN lout who caused a public outcry after he urinated over Burnley’s war memorial could now end up in prison.

Jamie Gorton, 22, had earlier been given a suspended prison term for the offence, committed almost two weeks after hundreds of people laid poppies, and attended a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph.

Gorton claimed he didn’t know it was a war memorial.

He had admitted a charge of outraging public decency last November 28, and has now pleaded guilty to a domestic assault.

It was committed shortly after receiving the suspended term, and put him in breach of it.

Gorton, 22, of Browsholme Avenue, Burnley, yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting Lauren Pickles by beating her, on New Year’s Day.

The town's magistrates had earlier been told Gorton was caught on CCTV urinating on the memorial at about 4.20pm. He was later arrested by the police.

He was sentenced to six weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, with 100 hours unpaid work.

Daniel Frazer, representing Gorton yesterday, asked for sentence to be adjourned for reports from the defendant’s supervising probation officer.

Mr Frazer said Gorton had been ‘very, very drunk’ when he urinated on the memorial and had apologised and pleaded guilty.

He had not offended since the assault and seemed to have complied very well with supervision.

Gorton had been attending for all his unpaid work sessions. He had done 46 hours out of the 100, but currently had a chipped ankle after an accident. He was aware he could be sent to jail.

The defendant was bailed until March 22. He must not approach the victim, and must not go within 100 metres of her home.

The bench said the case was being adjourned for the reports. But, the chairman warned Gorton: “It still doesn’t mean you are not going to prison.”